From the isolation of the pandemic, new patterns of behavior have emerged in my life. There is still the vitality of relationships, even though occurring electronically, also Shabbat services with fellow congregants Zooming into the sanctuary to make a minyan. And then there are the Zoom family gatherings for celebrations and games and, yes, sometimes just to exchange ideas. Peppered through all of it are endless emails, texts, phone calls and meetings — powered by the mobile device with the red cover that never leaves my side.

There is also a new sound in my life. It is the voice that emanates from any of four Google nests in my house — appropriately respectful, unfailingly responsive, and even humorous at times.  “Hey, Google…what time is it?” That’s a silly, easy question. It is the complicated ones that illicit the best and most unexpected and sometimes hilarious responses. “Hey, Google…why?”

Will these changes in our pandemic lifestyle become the new normal? Do we go back to pre-pandemic patterns — no longer worried about getting too close, too many people, too many masks or too few? Or do we move on, taking with us our changed lifestyle patterns? Do we forget “Hey, Google?” I think not. I think we are more likely to integrate those patterns of the pandemic into a clever new normal.

We are already doing just that at CTI. We have expended considerable creative energy to evolve our pandemic-minted virtual programs — Lunch and Learn, Shul Schmooze, services, meetings, and a new community art program soon to launch called “Echoes of the Pandemic” — into future hybrid experiences. We sought creative solutions for our shul, meshing the in-person/virtual engagement dilemma for the time when our shul doors will reopen.

And what about us? Our new normal? Will there still be a place for “Hey Google” in a hybrid existence? I think so.

—Judith K. Weiner